March 4, 2012

When is it permissible to remove a child from its home in the UK? While the answer is unclear and clouded in actions that are carried out on a subjective basis, one case that highlights the pressures and decisions facing social workers is one illustrated by the social worker Ben Crang.

Workers like Ben are involved in almost 10,000 cases of children being removed from their home and placed into temporary or foster care while their previous situation is assessed, and it is determined what is to happen to the child in the meantime, as well as into the long term. Social workers and foster care issues can be an agonizing area. Work such as this almost exists in a no win situation; get it right and you save a child from harm but remove it from its home, get it wrong and the consequences are almost too hard to think about. (more…)

February 14, 2012

Elizabeth Grifin-Hall is the Child Services Worker who witnessed the tragic event that unfolded at the Washington home of Josh Powell, who apparently torched his home, killing himself and his two sons. When a tragedy occurs, we want to know the underlying reason for it.

On the day in question, the Child Services worker had brought the two young children to their father’s home in what was supposed to be a supervised visit. According to her account, the two boys entered the house, and then she heard one of them cry out. She tried to gain access, calling out to the father and the children, and then became aware of the smell of gas, frantically pointing this out to the 911 operator who answered her call. (more…)

January 12, 2012

The job of a social worker is never easy. Though rewarding in the sense that helping or improving the life of someone else feels great, the social worker’s job is often under attack – especially in cases involving children. Social workers are required by law to protect and ensure the safety of the children in their care. They are responsible for the child’s wellbeing even once in the hands of a foster parent or guardian.

Social workers are required to thoroughly assess and investigate potential foster or adoptive parents and their homes prior to the transfer of children into their care. Foster and adoptive parents are to also be informed of any special needs the children may have to make sure the parents are capable of providing proper care for them. There are some instances, however, when someone or something slips through the cracks. Sometimes children are abused or killed, or perhaps the foster family household suffers issues of their own as a result of the new family dynamic. When these unfortunate scenarios occur, who’s to blame? (more…)

January 8, 2012

Life in the American Military, and in the Air Force can lead to its own particular stresses and challenges. This is true for those serving and their families and dependants. Social work jobs within the Air Force aim to provide workers with the necessary skills to deal with these issues and help those in need of help. Along with the obvious leadership skills that go along with a life in the service, you may need skills in health care, the sciences and administration and operations.

The skills you have now will be added to and enhanced by life in the military, supporting services around the country and beyond, and you will be working in a multi disciplinary setting, transferring all that you know and combining it with on the job learning. (more…)

December 31, 2011

Few professions get as bad a rap as social workers in our society. Amid the myriad of stories told by family, friends and acquaintances and the negative portrayal of social workers on television and in the media, it’s not hard to believe the bad things you hear. Consequently, there are many myths and misconceptions that have arisen about social workers and the service they provide.

The job of a social worker is to counsel and help people find the right resources, solutions and care available to them, specific to those individual’s issues. They deal with many issues, such as Child welfare, Pregnancy issues, Veterans’ affairs, Coping with grief and loss, Mental health recovery Domestic violence, Prison and drug rehabilitation, Adoption and foster care, Disability, Depression, Divorce and Poverty. What are the myths that are common? (more…)

December 26, 2011

The University Of Tennessee College Of Social Work is one of several social work programs located in Tennessee. The Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) program is targeted toward undergraduate students who are interested in a generalist social work program. Requirements for the BSSW program at UT College of Social Work include 60 hours of general education, 45 hours of social work credit, and 15 hours of electives.

BSSW students have the option of studying or earning certification in school social work, gerontology, veterinary social work, and child welfare. Bachelor’s degree students are also required to take a Comprehensive Assessment in social work as part of a required seminar class. An honors program is also offered to BSSW students who are dedicated to the advancement of social work as well as their careers. (more…)

December 22, 2011

The Colorado State University School of Social Work is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. CSU offers Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, and doctor of philosophy (PhD) programs to interested candidates. Undergraduates interested in entry-level social work careers can apply to the BSW program at Colorado State University provided they have already been accepted into the university.

BSW students take several courses in generalist social work practice in preparation for jobs after graduation in a wide variety of areas. Students must also enroll in a field placement, take a seminar, and successfully complete research courses. The field placement gives BSW students the opportunity to be exposed to “real world” social work settings prior to graduation in preparation for a social work job. CSU offers two options for Master of Social Work students: an on-campus option and a distance education option. (more…)

December 17, 2011

By definition, a pediatric social worker is a professional who works with children in a helping role. However, there are many different areas in which social workers can work with children. These can include any setting in which the social worker is working directly with children, such as in the areas of social services, mental health, school-based services, hospice, healthcare, and many other settings.

Pediatric social workers must receive specific training to understand typical childhood development as well as family dynamics that can typically occur in stressful situations. They may conduct family therapy to help both the family and the child learn to function more successfully at home, may arrange community services to benefit the child and family, or provide individual counseling or therapy to the child as a way of helping him or her work through difficult situations. (more…)

December 9, 2011

Social work is an area that falls in the academic arena of the social sciences, which requires lots of research in order to compile an efficient and applicable report that is both interesting and relevant to the reader. The following guidelines can serve as basic directions for assembling a social work report.

Organization is important both in terms of time management and the way your report is structured. Set aside an area where there are few distractions and where resources are accessible. Make sure you take the time to list out the different steps you plan to take in order to compile your report, such as writing your thesis, gathering information from various journals and resources, completing the research, summarizing data, and other steps in between. This will help anyone writing a social work report not only complete the report in a systematic manner, but will produce a final product that is organized and easy to read and understand. (more…)

December 5, 2011

Though it may seem an unlikely place to find social work programs, the military is an excellent environment for social workers to find jobs and acquire experience in a variety of areas. The University of Southern California offers a graduate program in military social work that allows students to train specifically to serve in the military. Students are offered the chance to specialize in this sub-concentration, which can be combined with other concentrations including Mental Health, Families and Children, and Community Organization Planning and Administration. Positions include working individually or in groups with veterans or active members of the military suffering from mental health disorders such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, substance abuse, or depression.

Social workers can also be useful in helping veterans or active military personnel to seek out additional services for themselves or their families. Students in the graduate social work program at the University of Southern California are given the option of a sub-concentration in Military Social Work, and are required to complete at least 600 hours of practicum hours in a military setting working with veteran populations. The University of Southern California Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families is a special facility designated to conduct coursework and research specific to veteran populations and their families. (more…)

November 18, 2011

Fortunately for social workers, social work jobs are quite available in all states due to the high degree of flexibility within the social work career as well as relatively low reimbursement rates. Many organizations are realizing that social workers are a wise choice in terms of hiring, as they are a relatively affordable commodity with a wide range of experience and knowledge, as well as an ability and desire to work with communities and families.

However, in terms of which states are best for hiring social workers, it depends on the background of the social worker and which field he or she is entering. For social workers entering the mental health field, New York and Minnesota are two states that reportedly have some of the best opportunities for psychiatric social work positions. (more…)

November 7, 2011

Though many social work graduates may believe that virtually no social work job opportunities exist for them without a clinical license, jobs for those with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) do exist.
Some ideas for jobs for those recently graduated with a BSW are temporary programs such as Americorps, the Peace Corps, City Year, or Teach for America. These positions often offer a small salary while giving recent graduates excellent on-the-job training in a variety of settings.

Peace Corps volunteers usually live overseas for at least two years, while Americorps and City Year volunteers devote a year of their lives to a social work position. Teach for America teachers are often placed in underprivileged schools and are offered intensive training. All of these positions offer excellent experience and an impressive background for students planning to apply to graduate social work programs. There are also jobs for those with the BSW that are in specific social services settings. (more…)

October 27, 2011

There are several options in Boston, Massachusetts, for potential graduate students of social work to pursue an education. Boston College offers both Master and Doctoral degrees of social work as well as dual degrees and several different concentrations. For those pursuing a Master of Social Work degree (MSW), students can choose one of four concentrations, including Children, Youth, and Families; Global Practice; Health and Mental Health; and Older Adults and Families. Students must also complete several days each week in a field placement setting, where they learn practical social work skills in a realistic setting.

The typical MSW student completes his or her course of study in two years; there are also options for a one year, three year, and four year course of study depending on the student’s educational background in social work and work schedule. Dual degree opportunities include integrating the MSW degree with an MBA, JD, or MA in Pastoral Ministry degree. Students may also participate in the combined MSW/PhD program in which they can earn both degrees in less time than it would take to finish each degree separately. The Boston College PhD in Social Work program focuses on assisting students in developing expertise in a specific area and prepares those students for a career in scholarly research. PhD students must write and defend a dissertation at the end of their academic studies. (more…)

October 17, 2011

Social workers are needed even in correctional institutions in order to fulfill a variety of responsibilities. There are several different roles social workers can take in prisons. Some social workers may meet with prisoners for individual or group therapy as a means of addressing mental health issues, or helping them cope with long sentences and a drastic change in environment. Social workers may lead group therapy sessions in which prisoners process their personal situations as well as learn together how to deal with the demands of the stressful environment of a correctional facility.

Some social workers may have the responsibility of completing risk assessments for the court system as a means of determining their risk level if they were to be released into mainstream society. These social workers often have a great deal of experience in assessing similar situations and are able to somewhat accurately predict the costs and benefits of releasing certain prisoners into the community. (more…)

October 13, 2011

Social workers often work in close communication with the court system, whether it is through Department of Social Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, custody battles, or an array of many other agencies and situations. Many times social workers will face ethical conflicts as they attempt to treat clients in a dignified and respectful fashion, yet are obligated to share certain information with the court system that may harm the social worker-client relationship.

Social workers also serve their clients well by telling them that they are legally responsible to break confidentiality if the client is at risk of harming himself or herself or others. For example, a child in DSS custody may confide in the social worker that his or her parents have abused or neglected him or her. (more…)

October 7, 2011

In today’s economy, almost everyone is searching for financial aid for college. A college scholarship is a wonderful way for a student to get some money for college. There are a lot of different types of scholarships available for a college bound student. Specific to the bsw or msw degree there are scholarships for social workers. Lots of other funding opportunities are also available so it’s good to research niche areas, your ethnic background and special interests. A celebrity scholarship for college is also another option.

The Alicia Keys Open Doors Scholars Program offers students $5000 for college. Students from New Orleans, Atlanta, Jacksonville and Harlem are eligible for the scholarship.. The winners of the scholarship must perform community service as well as represent the organization at the school they are attending. The Open Doors Program was started by Alicia Keys business manager, D. J. Walton. (more…)

October 3, 2011

Portland State University (PSU) is host to the only graduate social work program in Oregon, and is known for its extensive undergraduate and graduate opportunities for students interested in a combination of clinical practice, research, and involvement in the community.

The program offers a Bachelor of Social Work degree, a Master of Social Work degree, doctoral studies programs, and a degree in Child and Family Studies. Students enrolled in the undergraduate program at PSU School of Social Work can earn a B.A.S.W. to prepare graduates for entry-level social work positions or for graduate school. The generalist social work curriculum requires students to engage in academic coursework as well as work in the social work field through internship and volunteer opportunities. The Child and Family Studies undergraduate program provided by the PSU School of Social Work provides students with a foundational understanding of the family system and its interaction with children. (more…)

September 29, 2011

Barry University School of Social Work is located in Miami Shores, Florida and offers BSW, MSW, and PhD programs to students. The BSW program requires students to complete a volunteer service worth 75 hours and one practice course during their junior year, and a field placement of 480 hours and three practice courses during their senior year. The purpose of the BSW program is to give students a strong foundational understanding of the social work field and prepare them for a more advanced graduate program.

Barry also offers an MSW degree program that can be completed in two years of full-time study. This 60-credit program is known as a ‘clinical school,’ meaning that all students who enroll at Barry get a clinical background, unlike other schools that give students a choice between direct and indirect practice. All students are trained in social policy, research methods, and social work practice with families and individuals. Field education is required for all students in the MSW program, which includes 448 hours in the foundation year and 480 hours in the concentration year. Students may also enroll in the program part-time, which can be completed in 7 or 8 semesters. The full-time program is offered at the Miami Shores campus, and part-time programs are offered at Miami Shores and Palm Beach. (more…)

September 24, 2011

Virginia is home to several schools of social work, including Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), George Mason University, and Norfolk State University. All three programs offer Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees. VCU is located in Richmond, Virginia, and is one of the top-ranked social work programs in the country. VCU offers a MSW program that allows students with previously-earned BSW degrees to complete the curriculum in three continuous semesters (advanced standing), or to complete the curriculum in 60 hours through either a part-time or full-time schedule.

VCU also offers a doctoral program in social work that allows students to pursue studies that are thorough preparation for a career in research or teaching. PhD students must complete comprehensive exams as well as defend a dissertation prior to graduation. VCU also plans to discontinue their Northern Virginia program to offer a distance education program beginning in 2012 in order to serve a more diverse group of students. (more…)

September 20, 2011

Depending on what area of the country social workers are employed, social work with immigrants is becoming increasingly common. No matter if social workers are employed by local or state government, hospitals, schools, assisted living facilities, social services, or other places of employment, it is highly likely that a social worker will work with an immigrant family within his or her career. In areas such as South Florida, there are many various ethnicities, but still there can be a great deal of isolation, discrimination and adjustment issues.

While many immigrants have assimilated well into the American culture and environment, others struggle to cope with an extremely different culture, perspective, language, and way of living. Social workers must be patient, compassionate, and understanding of these difficulties even when it appears very challenging for people to overcome the barriers standing between them and a normally-adjusted life. One of my clients is from Vietnam and has had a number of problems due to school bullying (more…)

September 18, 2011

There is an interesting podcast interview between host, Dr Jonathan Singer, LCSW and Mark Meier, LCSW discussing how common depression is in social workers. Social workers are actually 3 times more likely to be depressed than others.

Mark said, “I think the nature of the job itself lends itself to being at risk for depression. We work in stressful environments, we have high caseloads, we often have unrealistic demands placed on us by the public, the organizations that we work for, to solve problems that are life long in developing and we are given 30 days to fix them. You know we work in threatening and dangerous environments, and I think when you add all of that together what you come up with Jonathan is a picture of ongoing stress and what we know is that when we don’t manage our stress well, whether you want to call it burnout or compassion fatigue or what you choose to call it, I think what it is most of the time is depression, and there is such a growing body of literature demonstrating that link between stress, you know unremitting stress, and depression.” I don’t remember this being discussed in social work grad school and at the jobs I’ve had, there haven’t been in-depth discussions about it though of course phrases such as stress and burnout are used . (more…)

September 13, 2011

Yesterday was a painful day as many of us listened to survivors of the Sept 11th attack by Terrorists 10 years ago. There were also many interviews with family members still coping with the loss of a loved one. There is a lot of trauma that is still being processed by so many people from this terrifying and devastating attack on our country.

A psychologist, Dr. Wakschal, director of Victory Behavioral Health stated, “It’s not complicated for post-traumatic stress to occur. “All you need is exposure to a situation where death is a possibility, where during that time you had a sense of helplessness or horror, and also felt that escape was difficult or impossible,” he explained. (more…)